Citation

Ali W, Kumar P, Seenhro ZA. Medical forum monthly 2015; 26(9): 2-5.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study frequency of patterns and manners of asphyxial deaths autopsied at Liaquat University Hospital. Study Design: Retrospective study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Office of Police Surgeon-Medico legal section, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad from January 2010 to December 2014.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medicolegal files of autopsy were studied retrospectively. 135 files were finalized after scrutiny of 2033 autopsies. Causes, types and patterns of asphyxia were noted. Essential data was noted in a predesigned proforma for study purpose. Data variables were analyzed on Microsoft excel and Statistix 8.1 using appropriate statistical tests. P value of ≤0.05 was taken of statistical significance.

RESULTS: One hundred and thirty five cases of asphyxial deaths (out of 2033 autopsies) were studied. Age (mean±SD) was noted as 49.7±8.9 years. Of 135 cases, 65.9% (n=89) were male and 34.07% (n=46) were female (X2 = 112.5 p=0.0001). 28.1% and 8.14% of cases showed ligature and manual strangulation respectively. Hanging, drowning, traumatic asphyxia and throttling were noted in 42.21%, 12.59%, 5.18% and 3.7% respectively. Suicidal deaths in 29.6%, homicidal in 57.03% and accidental asphyxial deaths were observed in 13.33%.

CONCLUSION: Homicidal and suicidal deaths of hanging and strangulation seemed to be the major contributing causes of asphyxial deaths.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; Homicide; suicide; Suicide; Autopsy; drowning; female; male; asphyxia; autopsy; hanging; strangulation; death; retrospective study; Article; Asphyxial deaths; tertiary care center; Sindh